A theft was reported the afternoon of March 25 involving property taken from a residence on Hollie Lane, near Cool Water Resort area at Sylamore. The victims reported that when they left their house earlier in day and returned that afternoon, they noticed that several items had been removed from their house. Information was developed that two white males were seen near the house earlier in the day. The victims went to house of the accused a noticed some of the property inside the house and when questioning them, they were asked to leave. Izard County deputies arrived and ask for permission to search the house. When permission was denied the house was secured and search warrant was prepared and later executed.

Sheriff Tate Lawrence said that when deputies executed the search warrant on the house where Justin Daniel Stewart and Steven Gavabain Stewart, father and son reside, several items identified by the victim were discovered in the attic of the house. Items discovered consist of two televisions, a XBOX, games, two controllers, a Sentry speaker system, two speakers, a hand woven belt, a wooden plaque, a VCR/DVD combo, a TV remote, and other items. The items were seized and returned to the rightful owners. Steven Stewart, age 51 and his son, Justin Stewart, age 25 were arrested and charged with residential burglary and theft of property. According to Sheriff Lawrence, t he residential burglary charge is a class “b” felony and the theft of property charge is a class “d” felony.

The older Stewart appeared before District t Judge David E. Miller and was released with an Izard County Circuit Court date while the younger Stewart remains in the Izard County Detention Facility on a $20,000 bond.

Sheriff Lawrence said that other property crimes in the Sylamore area are under active investigation and charges are likely in the next few days.